Heirloom Seeds...

Traditionally we've always just gone up to Wal-mart or Home Depot to buy seeds (generally Burpee), but the more I read about some of Monsanto's (who bought out Burpee) questionable practices, the more I'm interested in just getting back to the basics.

I've been looking around the Baker Creek website, and am curious whether anyone around here has ordered from them. They have a great rating from "Garden Watchdog". If you've ordered from them, what varieties did you grow, how did they do?

Besides Baker Creek, can you suggest any other reputable and cost effective companies I can take a look at? Thank you!

I wish Seeds of Change hadn't been bought out by the Mars Candy Corporation. I'm using their seed this year, but I don't feel comfortable in the long term getting my seed from some big multinational corp. Who knows what they'll do?...strike some backroom deal with Monsanto?

Yeah, I had a hard time believing it at first when someone told me that about 3 months ago on a different blog. Apparently this occurred many years ago too. I typed Seeds of Change and Mars Corporation into google and got about 20 hits. Check it out for yourself.

I'll put in a plug for the desert. http://www.nativeseeds.org grows their own seeds here in AZ. You can successfully grow many of their plants outside of desert regions. This season, my mom is growing some squash outside of Boston with seeds I harvested two years ago. They also carry some cool plants used for dyes (indigo, sunflower, amaranth).

I'm also trying a couple of seed exchanges for the first time this year.

I love Baker Creek and Seed Savers. I also recently "discovered" Landreth seeds. They've been in business since 1784 and sell only heirloom seeds. Due to a lawsuit, they've been trying to raise funds and are selling their catalogs for $5 each. Best $5 I've spent in a long while. Loads of information on the seeds listed. I can't wait to get garlic and blue potatoes from them and start growing!